Men in women’s world

The hair is the crowning glory of the woman. Because of this, the time, money and dedication to ensuring well styled hair are never overlooked by women.

Every woman who worth her salt will go the extra mile to ensure her beauty is not compromised through an unkempt hair. In Nigeria, most beauty salons record high patronage on weekends. Women throng to these beauty salons to ensure their hair is taken care of before activities of the new week.

Asides the volume of female hair stylists in this beauty business, there abound male hair stylists. These male stylists from findings appear to be more acceptable by the women folk than their female counterparts.

Creative, Passionate, Industrious are words to describe these young male hair stylists who labour to enhance the beauty of the women.

When The Nation visited a beauty salon in Ogba, Mrs. Chinelo Osita, was been attended to by a male stylist. This didn’t come without her insisting on a male stylist rather than the female stylist who was idle.

For making such request, Mrs Osita had to wait for the male stylist to complete the job he had at hand. Thirty minutes later, the male stylist was through to resume duty on her hair. While the styling lasted, she stole a look at the large mirror opposite her seating position at intervals wearing a satisfied look as she will confess to this reporter later.

It took one hour for the stylist to complete the braiding. Satisfied with the good job, she paid for the service rendered.

She recalls: “Before now I have always had female stylists make my hair. But one day, a male stylist had the course to do same and did a good job.

“My friends kept on asking me where I did such hair. After that encounter with the male stylist, I have never relented in going back to them for a perfect hairdo,” the lady who appears to be in her late thirties said.

Male stylists

For the male stylist it was a story of creativity, passion, excitement and fulfilment.

Seun Haolu is a graduate of Petro-Chemical Engineering, University of Benin. He is a hair stylist. To him, being a stylist is due to his creativity and passion he has for beauty.

“Being a stylist today is as a result of my creativity and passion for styles and fashion. I became so endeared to this job long time ago and got determined to make a living from it.

For how long has Haolu being a stylist? “I started a long time ago while in school but started off professionally in 2011.”

Two years down the line, he says he has achieved satisfaction from making women beautiful. “My experience has been awesome. From this I am able to fend for myself rather than be a burden to people.” To him, he is comfortable doing what he derives pleasure.

For the 19-year-old John Zion, an apprentice hair stylist, he regards his highly creative mind as the major influence on his decision to become a renowned hair stylist.

For eight months, young Zion has continually worked as an apprentice in a Lagos- based beauty salon learning the ropes.

When asked on the challenges, he says: “I must confess it has been a worthwhile experience and I hope to learn more skills needed to be successful in this field.

“Although most times one tends to be overworked but all the same I am coping,” he says.

Unlike Haolu and Zion, Dapo Oluwole attraction into the beauty business was born out of his friend’s success in hair styling. He believes he can also achieve such feat.

Oluwole said: “I was influenced by my friend who trained me in this craft. Doing this has made him travel round the world, live in big houses and ride Porsche cars so I believe to achieve this feat.”

He is quick to add that most of the male stylists world wide never came from a background of affluence just like him but they go ahead to excel due to their creativity.

“A rich man’s son will not be a stylist. Check the history of male stylists in the world, not one is from a rich background. But, through styling one carves a niche for himself. It is a good business if you are highly creative,” Oluwole who appears to be in his late twenties explains.

Speaking on the challenges, he says: “It has been challenging since I started in 2010. Interacting with women can be tough. I always respect them despite the fact that some of them insult you and shout at you unjustly.

“Since my three years in this business I have come to understand that there are two types of customers: Quiet and Outspoken.

“The quiet persons can be dangerous because they do not utter any word. They watch meticulously and if they are not satisfied with your services they won’t patronise

“On the other hand, the outspoken voices her displeasure and commends when necessary. I am able to handle them aptly by the grace of God,” he says.

Corroborating Haolu, popularly called ‘Mexzy’ admits the ‘difficult’ characteristics of women. For him, he believes attending to them appropriately involves: patience, good communication skills and tolerance.

“Some of them enter the salon visibly angry and ready to tear down anyone but I try to speak courteously to them.”

Recounting his experience, the UNIBEN-trained-engineer says: “I remember a lady who I styled her hair. When she came into the shop, she wore a very fiery look. The moment I started plaiting, she interjected with a loud voice expressing her displeasure with the way I went about it.

“To the amazement of other stylists mostly females, I was able to calm her and assured her of my competence in a cool manner. When she left the salon, the female stylists while commending me also disclosed they will never have done such a thing I did.”

Are they not threatened by the female stylists? He says: “I do not feel threatened by the female stylists. The sky is large enough to accommodate every bird who desires to soar. However, I feel it is the other way round.

“The ladies prefer us (male stylists) than our female counterparts. They want someone who will respect them, tolerate them and their numerous complains and do a perfect job. They believe we are careful and make neat braids.”

He says that he and his other colleagues are not threatened by the females because the percentage of patronage. Although, he explained that this patronage do not go down well with their female colleagues.

“Most times they portend to be quarrelsome and hostile to their male counterparts on petty issues. Presently, a female colleague is serving her suspension period for the same act. Female stylists feel threatened by our presence. The clients always require the males to style them thereby putting them out of job,” he noted.

For young Zion, “From what I have observed, most of our customers request for male stylist because they are fast.”

The women’s choice

For Wunmi Dosunmu, she prefers the male stylists because: “They take their time to do hair but females don’t. They (female) are good but not in the same league with their male counterparts.”

In the same vein, Naomi Olamakinde, an undergraduate of the University of Lagos admits to the high patronage of the male stylist. “I have seen a whole lot of people especially along University Road, Yaba patronise the male hair stylists.”

According to her, the reason for the high patronage of male stylists is due to their neat work. “Most ladies believe that male stylists do neater and better jobs.”

For Esther Diobi she will not hesitate to pick a male stylist above the female stylist. “If I am told to choose between a male and female stylist of the same level of expertise I will go for the male.”

Why? She feels they will know better on how to fix the woman’s hair. “There is a belief that for a man to be a stylist, he will most definitely like girls and will know what suits them.”

But for Kate Ushiekpan and Folake Adeyanju their preference for male stylist is due to their high level of concentration, reticence and respectful disposition.

For Ushiekpen: “They pay attention to details. They don’t talk too much when they are working and they are faster.”

On her part, Adeyanju said: “I prefer them to the female stylist. They concentrate and are not saucy. Females also are good but my preference is the male.”